PAYBACKS - Harder and Harder (real-deal Detroit R&R)CD

The Paybacks are real-deal Detroit R&R with capital letters and still stand as one of the city's best kept secrets. Fueled by the rocker-with-a-heart-of-gold vocals of Wendy Case, on ‘Harder And Harder ’, the Paybacks belt out nearly a dozen honest and passionate songs loaded with hooks.

There's no denying that Wendy voice sounds like a combination of Wendy O. Williams and Joan Jett as she belts out eleven strong songs of sonic brash pop with blazing hard rock riffs and some firey guitar leads.

The Paybacks are equal parts swagger and stagger as they plug away on melodic rockers like "Bright Side" and the glittery blues anthem "Jumpy." The scorching riff rockers like "Superrider" and "Scotch Love" assert how powerful and unrelenting this Motor City quartet can be and the soulfully executed ballad "Can You Drive?" suggests the band can do more than raise hell. ‘Harder And Harder’ sounds like a sonic combustion of The Runaways, the MC5 and the Dirtbombs played with a ton of heart and soul.

And by calling this sonic firecracker ‘Harder and Harder’, the Paybacks will never be accused of false advertising.